i have a question about the revolutionary war?

Question

couldnt the revolutionary war be seen as a civil war? i mean after all america was still apart of england wasnt it? just a thought thanks for the feedback.

Answer 1

Well its not as simple of an issue to say the war was between the British, in Britain, and colonist here. The fact is the colonies were quite divided into factions. Most historians agree that white colonist were divided into three camps, 1/3 loyalists to England, 1/3 didn't care and just wanted to be left alone, and 1/3 were for a seperation from England.
This thirds do not even include Native Americans, who were generally for the British side because they were trying to stop migration to the west. Also when you include African slaves most were on the side of the British, mainly because promised of freedom being granted by the British if they aided their side. These different sides all interacted, fought against each other and even commited acts of violence against each others civilians. In this case I would consider it a Civil War that led to Independence.

Answer 2

Some people call the war the War for Independence. I think Revolutionary War can still be technically correct, given that one definition of "Revolution" is the overthrow of a government by those who are ruled. Essentially, that is what happened. But to me, "Revolution" implies a radical change in thinking. The government that Americans installed shortly after was not drastically different from the government in Britain (in a practical and not idealistic standard). Rich, landed elite held power -- so in a sense, there was no real revolution.

It is not a civil war because the colonists were not fighting separate factions amongst themselves (for the most part).

For the most part, wars for independence in the new world were not called "revolutions."

Answer 3

If the south had won the civil war would they call it the civil war or the second revolutionary war? A lot of times the name of a war is made be the winners and since America won the war They called it a revolution.

Answer 4

The Revolutionary War was a civil war and a global war (World War). People do not refer to this war when thinking of civil or world war; however, the partisan bands that fought for the crown were Americans fighting Americans. The Southern Campaign presented civil war in that the British were forced to recruit loyalist to re-enforce their ranks; therefore, the South saw neighbor against neighbor and often family against family. (See British Legion history especially after the Cowpens.) The reference to World War is relative to the fact that Spain, France, etc...had all declared war against Britain and were supported by Russia and others.

Answer 5

I think that its not considered a Civil war because all parties were not on the same continent. The English had to get here by boat. That is the reinforcements anyway. Sure at the time we were all "English" and our founding fathers were all traders to mother England. However, I think that the Atlantic made it Revolutionary rather then Civil.

Answer 6

Some historians do consider the American Revolution a civil war because so many of the colonists considered themselves British citizens, and the colonies an extention of England. There were a lot of loyalists, but it isn't discussed much in history classes until you get to the upper level college classes.

Answer 7

The American Revolution was a war of liberation waged between the Americans and the British colonial authority that was enforced by its regular army. Civil wars are between people of the same nation who contend about certain matters as was the case of the American Civil War between the North and the South about the issue of ceding from the Union and the emancipation of slaves.

Answer 8

If America had lost then yes it would have been a civil war but since we one its called the revolution.

Answer 9

Yes. It all depends who wins.